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                  <p class="p_Heading1"><span class="f_Heading1">Define Properties</span></p>



  
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                <p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">When you create an element and connect it to another element, you usually have to define various characteristics of both the element and the connector to identify the purpose and function they represent. You do this using a </span><span class="f_UIControl">Properties</span><span class="f_BodyText"> dialog.</span></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">Enterprise Architect is initially configured to display the </span><span class="f_UIControl">Properties</span><span class="f_BodyText"> dialog automatically when you create an element or connector, but it is easy (and often convenient) to <a href="objectproperties.htm">turn the dialog display off</a>. If the default display has been turned off, you can display the dialog by:</span></p>
<ul style="text-indent: 0px; margin-left: 30px; list-style-position: outside;">
<li><span class="f_Bulletlist1">double-clicking on the element or connector in the diagram or</span></li>
<li><span class="f_Bulletlist1">right-clicking on it in the </span><span class="f_MenuKeyField">Project Browser</span><span class="f_Bulletlist1"> and selecting the </span><span class="f_MenuKeyField">Properties</span><span class="f_Bulletlist1"> menu option.</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_UIControl">Properties</span><span class="f_BodyText"> dialogs vary between element types and between elements and connectors but, as you saw when you created your first element, they look something like this:</span></p>
<p class="p_TextIndentedL2"><img src="propertieswindow.png" width="387" height="465" border="0" alt="PropertiesWindow"></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">When you create elements, Enterprise Architect automatically names and numbers them by type - for example, Class1, Class2 - so you should at least change the </span><span class="f_MenuKeyField">Name</span><span class="f_BodyText"> field to more easily identify each element.</span></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">See the </span><span class="f_BodyText" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="objectproperties.htm">Element Properties</a></span><span class="f_BodyText"> topic for a full description of the element </span><span class="f_UIControl">Properties</span><span class="f_BodyText"> dialog.</span></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">Enterprise Architect does not automatically name connectors, but for many connector types you should provide a name that describes the purpose of the connection.</span></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">See the </span><span class="f_BodyText" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="connectiondetails.htm">Connector Properties</a></span><span class="f_BodyText"> topic for a full description of the connector </span><span class="f_UIControl">Properties</span><span class="f_BodyText"> dialog.</span></p>
<p class="p_SubHeadingL1"><span class="f_SubHeadingL1">Explore User Interface</span></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">So far you have been using the </span><span class="f_UIControl">Project Browser</span><span class="f_BodyText"> and </span><span class="f_UIControl">Diagram View</span><span class="f_BodyText"> to develop your project. At this point you should find out a bit more about the other facilities of the Enterprise Architect <a href="theworkspace.htm">User Interface</a>.</span></p>
<p class="p_BodyText"><span class="f_BodyText">When you have finished exploring the User Interface topics, go to <a href="quick_start___project_tasks.htm">Quick Start - Project Tasks</a> to identify areas of Enterprise Architect that provide particular support for your job role.</span></p>




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